Three dead in Zagreb crash; victims known to police, driver unlicensed

A tragic traffic accident in Zagreb's Botinec neighborhood has resulted in the deaths of three individuals, all of whom had prior police records for serious criminal offenses. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. on Wednesday when a Mazda veered off the road and struck a concrete pole.

The driver, identified as 35-year-old A.G., was reportedly without a valid driver's license. Furthermore, the vehicle itself was found to have an expired registration and technical inspection sticker from the previous year. Initial reports indicate that the driver lost control of the vehicle for reasons yet to be determined, causing it to leave the roadway and collide with the pole, resulting in the car splitting in half.

Emergency services arrived to find all three occupants showing signs of life. One passenger died at the scene, while the other two were transported to local hospitals, KB Sestre milosrdnice and KBC Zagreb, where they later succumbed to their injuries. Autopsies are scheduled to be conducted at the Institute of Forensic Medicine and Criminology in Zagreb.

Authorities are investigating all circumstances surrounding the crash, including whether the driver experienced a medical emergency or if alcohol or illicit substances played a role. Residents in the area mentioned that the driver may have lived nearby and was frequently seen at a local gas station. While all three victims had police files, one of the passengers, 48-year-old Z.B., was facing charges from 2024 for allegedly stealing construction materials valued at over 6,000 euros.